Heat-interchange device



Dec. 16, 1930. H. G. ULJLMAN v 1 HEATZ INTECHG `DEVICE 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Filed sept. 14, 1927 H. G. 'ULLMAN 1,785,159

` HEAT-INTERGHANGE DEVICE ia, 193,0.y

Filed swept. 14, 1927 "2 sheets-'sheet 2'- w llll Patented Dec. 16, 193i) p HERBERT G. ULLMAN, OF TUCKAHOE, NEW YORK HEAT-INTERCEANGE DEVICE Application led September 14, 1927. Serial No. 219,454.

This invention relates to improvements in Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a reduced heat interchange devices of the kind having scale, of the heat interchange device. a coil through whichone medium is passedv Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the device and which is arranged within a casin' into provided with a coil of modified form.

5 which the other medium enters an sur- Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectionthereof, on 55 rounds or passes over said coil. The inven- 'line 6-6, Fig. 5. tion is particularly ada ted for use in con- Fig. 7 is a vertical section, on a reduced nection with that class o such devices known scale, showing a modified form of the device as water heaters, i illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, wherein said 10 The principal object of the invention is device is provided with an intermediate cas- 60 to improve and simplify the construction of ing member for affording increased capacity. heat `interchange devices of thecharacter The heatinterchange device in which the stated so as to increase the efficiency and renimprovements of the present invention are der the. operation thereof morev economical embodied, comprises Vin general, as usual, a

than has been possible with constructions coiled pipe disposed within a hollow closed heretofore known. casing or shell, with its ends suitably con- Other objects are to providean improved nected with supply and dischargepipes or heat .interchange device having a casing conother means outside the casing, :for the asstructed to direct the medium therein away sage of one'of the iiuids therethrou h, w ile from thewalls of said casing and towards the Casing has suitable inlet or outlet o en- 70 and about the coils so as to have intimate conings for the introduction of the other uid, tact therewith, whereby the interchange" of whereby the latter enters one end of the casheat is quickly eiect'ed; also'to construct the ing and surrounds and passes over the coil coil of the interchanger so that the medium to effect the desired exchange of heat with f surrounding said coil will be caused to 01-, the medium passing through said coil, and 75 10W a substantially spiral path varound the is then discharged from the casing. turns of the coil from one end of the coil to 111th@ COIISIIICOD ShOWIl in Figs. 1, 2, and the other; also to arrange the coil `in suchy 4-6, the cas1ng 4or shell A is composed of two relation to the aforesaid casing that the spihalf shells 10 and l1y provided respectively ral movement of the medium about the coil with securing flanges 12 and 13 which haveV 80 will act in conjunction with the movement abutting faces 14.V The two half shells are of said medium as caused by the construction secured together by suitable bolts or other of said casing, to cause a turbulent action or fastenings 15. A gasket 16 is preferably inthorough agitation of the medium inthe casterpesed between the faces 0f Sald flanges 12 ing about said coil for the purpose of aifor'dand 1 3- c 85 ing quick and efficient opmtiom Wlthin the shell or casing A, see partlcut th t larly Figs. 5 and 6 is arranged .a helical coilL tiogtllott Cof lllolterghlgser 20 formed of a number of turns 21 of metallic v pipe. The lower end of the coil is secured 40 ldthlir respects heremafr Set to an'inlet pipe 22 by a suitable connection 90 In the acompalying drawings 23 arranged to fit in and extend through an Fig. l is ,a vertical section of the improved opening or seat 24 in the half shell 11, while the upperend of the coil is similarly secured hea mterchange devlce embodymg my m by a connection 26 arranged in anopening 27,

ven ion.

to a discharge pipe 28. In this manner the 95 Flg- 2 1S 'a horlzontl 590171011 thereof, 011' medium passing through the coil enters the line 9f2, Fig- 1- coil at the lower end of the casing, and` after .Fg- 3 iS fragmentary view of a. modipassing through the coil, is discharged at the fied form of pipe of which the coil of the upper end of said casi'n by wayo the pipe device may be constructed. 28. The medium whlc 1s to surround the 10" c oil is introduced into the casing in any suitable way, as by means of an inlet pipe secured in a. threaded opening 31 in the top of the casing. This medium, after passing downwardly through said casing, is discharged throu h the lower end thereof through a disc arge pipe 32 secured in an o ning 33. The inlet and outlet pipes 30 and 32 are preferablyl also connected to the half shell 11, thus caving the other half shell 10 entirely free of pipe connections, so that the same can be easily removed to permit inspection of the coil.

In accordance with the invention, the casing is provided with means for deecting or directing the iiow of fluid or liquid medium passing therethrough from the walls of said casing towards and about the coil, to cause an intimate contact of the medium therewith for eiecting a rapid and thorough interchange of heat between the medium in the casing and that in the coil. For this purpose, the inner wall or surface of the casing, instead of being straight from one end to the other, as is usual, is formed or provided with ribs or corrugations 35 which extend towards or into the spaces between the successive turns of the coil. A single, continuous, helical rib is preferably used, and the groove or recess 36 between the turns ofthe ribs 35 is preferably formed substantially concentrically with and in spaced relation to the surface of the coil, or is substantially complementary in contour thereto, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 5. In addition, therefore, to directing the iuid at the sides of the casing inwardly about the coil, the rib 35 causes sai fluid medium to travel or whirl along a helical path coincident with the coil.

The aforesaid construction acts to cause a turbulent condition and thorough agitation of the medium passing over the coil, resulting in a quick interchange of temperature between the two media, as the Huid in the casing is caused to flow over all exposed portions of the coil 20.

In Figs. 1 and 2, additional means of novel construction are illustrated for edecting a still further turbulent action of the medium passing through the casing 10, whereby a still more intimate and thorough whirling contact of the latter with the coil may be efected. For this purpose, the coil 20a is provided with substantially transverse fins or corrugations, preferably arrangedy in a helical or spiral path extending crosswise of the tube or pi of which the coil is formed, being prefers. ly continuous from one end of the coil to the other so as to cause a whirling or rotary movement of the medium about the individual turns of the coil'. In said figures, this is effected by winding and securing a thin ribbon or strip 40 of metal of high conductivity, such as copper or brass, to the coil in any woll known manner, or as shown in Fig. 3, the wall of the coil itself may be formed with corrugations 41, thus providing integral ribs or fins 42 thereon, whereby a substantially similar result may be obtained.

By providing the coil with the spirallyarranged fins or ribs as just described, the pipe of which the coil is made may be of smaller diameter and with relatively thin walls, thus increasing the radiation and affording increased and quicker exchange of heat between the media.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the casing is formed substantially like th at in Figs. l and 2, but the coil 20a shown in said igures 5 and 6 is of the well known plain type, without fins `or corrugations. However, it will be seen that the ribs 35 on the casing will act to cause the medium in said casing to have intimate contact with said coil, as in the first construction.

The two forms of heat interchange devices described are particularly adapted for that type known as water heaters or auxiliary water heaters, which are arranged in or connected to systems wherein water is heated or steam general ed in a boiler or sectional heater of any other, suitable type, the coil of the interchangervor water heater being suitably connected b the pipes 22 and 28 to the supply of water to be heated, the casing of the device being connected by means of the pipes 30 and 32 to the heating system or apparatus so as to permit the introduction of hot water, steam or vapor to the casing of the device.

The improved construction described is such that very little additional fuel is required to heat the water in the coil, while nevertheless a relatively large volume of water may be heated, due to the rapid and thorough contact of the heating medium with the coil.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a modification, wherein two half shells 44 and 45, similar to the halfv shell 11 before described, are arranged in spaced relation to each other and which are connected to an intermediate casing section 46.

In this case the coil 47 is substantiall of oblon form, and the half shells 44 andY 45 and a so preferably the intermediate section 46 are provided with corrugations or fins 35 arranged coincident with the turns of the coil 47, as in the previous constructions. The coil 47 is preferably carried by one of the half sections, as the one 44, for connection to inlet and outlet supply pipes 49 and 50, while the inlet and outlet pipes 51 and 52 for the entrance and exit of the medium into and out of the casing are preferably connected respectively to the upper end of the half` section 44 and the lower end of the half section 45, thereby permitting `proper circulation of this medium about the coil 47 By this arrangement of the heat interchan e device, an increased capacity can be provided for without necessitating any appreciable chan e in the connections between the device an the system or apparatus to which it is to be attached.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a heat interchange device, a hollow coil composed of a plurality of spaced turns through which a fluid medium is passed, acasing extending about said coil and into which a second fluid medium enters and passes over said coil, said casing havin an inner surface disposed in spaced relation to the outer side of said coil, said surface being formed with ribs extending inwardly between the turns of said coil at the outer side thereof so as to leave the inner side of said coil unobstructed and said ribs being spaced from said coil for directingfiuid in said casing away from said surface between and over said tui-ns of said coil towards the inner unobstructed side thereof, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a heat interchange device, a hollow coil composed of a plurality of spaced turns through which a fluid medium is passed, a casing extending about said coil and into which a second fluid medium enters and passes over said coil, said casing having an inner surface disposed adjacent the outer side of said coil and which is formed of alternate ribs and grooves, said ribs being disposed so as'to extend between and in spaced relation to the turns of said'coil at the outer side thereof so as to leave the inner `side of said coil unobstructed, and said grooves having their surfaces disposed in spaced relation to the turns of said coil and of such a contour as to be substantially com lementary to the turns of the latter, where y fluid passing from the inner side of said coil over the saine to the walls of said casing is deflected by said ribs between said turns of said coil and returned to the inner side of the latter.

3. In a'heat interchange device, a hollow,

. substantially helical coil through which a Huid medium is passed and having its turns in spaced relation, a casing extending about said coil and into which a second fluid medium enters and passes over said coil, said casing having an inner surface disposed at the outer side of said coil and formed with a substantially continuous helical rib spaced from said coil and corresponding to the pitch of and extending between the turns thereof towards and leaving the inner side of said coil unobstructed, and said casing having a helical groove alternating with said rib and which is complementary to the turns of said coil, and into which said turns extend for the purpose set forth.

4. In a heat interchange device, a hollow coil composed of a plurality of spaced turns through which a fluid medium is passed, a casing extending about said coil and into which a second uid medium enters and passesv over said coil, said c asin having an inner surface disposed in space relation to and of a contour substantially complementary to that of the outer side of said coil and leavino the inner side of said coils unobstructed, and said coil having a transverse external rib arranged in substantially helical form to cause tlie fluid surrounding the coil to whirl transversely about the turns thereof in its passage through said casing.

5. In a heat interchange device, a hollow coil composed of a plurality of spaced turns through which a Huid medium is passed, a casing extending about said coil and into which a. second `fluid medium enters and passes over said coil, said casing having an inner surface disposed at the outer side of said coil and which is formed of alternate ribs and grooves, said ribs being disposed so as to extend towards the inner side of said coil between and in spaced relation to the turns of said coil, said grooves having their surfaces disposed in spaced relation to the turns of said coil and which are of a contour substantially complementary to the turns of the latter, and said coil having a substantially heli- .cal rib thereon, the portions thereof at the outer side of said coil being disposed within said grooves and in spaced relation to said ribs, for the purpose set forth.

HERBERT G. ULLMAN. 

